Athletic device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to devices for detecting motion of the human body, and more particularly, to means for detecting when selected portions of the human body start into motion as, for example, to monitor the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;timing&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of athletes, such as baseball players. In one embodiment of the device there is included means for changing the on-off state of an electrical switch in response to the selected portion of the body going through a change in state of motion, the output of the associated electrical circuit controlled by the switch actuating a means of sensory stimulation, such as an auditory device or a light signal. A preferred form of this embodiment is a tubular mercury switch affixed to the body portion which is connected through an electrical circuit to a buzzer.

[ Oct. 16, 1973 ABSTRACT ATHLETIC DEVICE Inventor: Robert J. Dealy, 7 Dean Court,

Commack, NY. 1l725 This invention relates to devices for detecting motion of the human body, and more particularly, to means Filed i for detecting when selected portions of the human PP 264,411 body start into motion as, for example, to monitor the timing of athletes, such as baseball players. In one embodiment of the device there is included means for changing the on-off state of an electrical switch in response to the selected portion of the body going through a change in state of motion, the output of the associated electrical circuit controlled by the switch actuating a means of sensory stimulation, such as an [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS auditory device or a light signal. A preferred form of this embodiment is a tubular mercury switch affixed to 3,362,023 1/1968 McMahon........................... 340/279 3,644,919 2/1972 Mathauser 340/279 1,956,201 4/1934 Roberts...............................

the body portion which is connected through an electrical circuit to a buzzer.

Primary EXarriiner-Thomas B. l-labecker Assistant Examiner-Glen R. Swann, III Attorney-William G. Rlififes 13 Claims, Drawing Figures 1 ATHLETIC DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In some field of sports, such as baseball, it is desired to teach athletes timing, by which is meant the sequence of body motions in relation to some external set of circumstances. Thus, in training baseball players to of transmitting to the ball a greater amount of kinetic energy in the form of the batters body weight. Similarly, it is also known that this effect can be further enhanced if the batters shoulders also are in rotational motion toward the oncoming ball preferably after his hips have started in motion, but in any event prior to the bats coming into contact with the ball. However, 7

even though these cause and effect relationships are well known, coaches or other persons attempting to teach athletes to bat have difficulty making those being trained aware of the actual sequence in which the various portions of their bodies are coming into motion, probably since the players concentration is primarily on the ball and because their reactions are somewhat instinctive.

Various proposals have been made to provide monitoring means for such motion sequences in the past. In this connection, reference is made to the following US. Pats: Herold No. 3,138,388; Sheldon et al. No. 3,215,438; Duncan No. 3,368,8l7; Roberts No. 2,191,683; Gunn, Jr. No. 3,528,664; and Barthol No. 3,436,076. However, the devices heretofor used have several disadvantages. For example, several of them are merely mechanical devices including a tube with a ball positioned therein, the effect of which is to produce a sound impulse as the device is brought into or stopped from motion. Such devices have several disadvantages, including being adversely affected by humidity changes, inherent inertia with resulting objectionable time lags, suseptibility to mechanical damage, and a tendency to react to hitching (false motions) by the player. Further, such devices do not allow a person other than the athlete, such as his coach, to monitor effectively, nor is the resulting impulse suseptible readily to amplification. Other devices, such as that proposed in the Barthol patent involve special equipment, and more particularly the baseball therein disclosed, alter the performance of the player and the game from the normal,'and are comparatively expensive to produce.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an athletic monitoring means by which sequences of body motions may be effectively monitored.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means by which sequence of body motion may be monitored by a person other than the wearer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for monitoring body motion sequences which is readily susceptable to amplification.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight, inexpensive means to monitor body motions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing, as well as other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the cognizant arts, may be achieved through practice of the present invention, one embodiment of which includes a motion actuated electrical switch means adapted for affixation to the selected portion of the body, the motion of which is to be monitored, and electrically actuated means electrically connectedthereto for producing a sensory indication that the on-off state of the switch means has changed.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS This invention may be more readily understood from the description of one. embodiment thereof which follows as well as from the following drawings in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the device illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is drawing of a motion actuated switch useful in the practice of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, there is depicted therein an embodiment of the present invention which is particularly well adapted for monitoring the hip motion of baseball players during batting; In FIG. 1 there is shown a base number 10 made from leather, plastic, metal or other suitable material for affixing the device to the portion of the body to be monitored. Since, in the present illustration, the device depicted is especially suitable for use in monitoring hip motion, the base number 10 includes slots 12 for use as belt hangers. Affixed to the base 10 is a switch means 14 which is responsive to motion of the wears hips. The switch means 14 comprises an on-off circuit switch 16, an energy source (not shown) within the box 18, such as a battery, and a motion responsive switch 20, preferably affixed to a swivel plate 22 which, in turn is affixed to the box 18 by means of a rivet or screw (not shown) at the center of the plate 22 about which the plate 22, and therefore the switch 20, may be made to swivel, thereby permitting the switch 20 to be oriented in various degrees of inclination. By this means, the degree of motion to which the device is responsive can be varied to compensate for the harder thrust induced by improved swinging as well as for the batter hitching or making false motions. In FIG. '1, the switch 20 is illustrated as being a tubular mercury switch which, by virtue of being able to vary the angle of inclination of its long axis, makes it possible to vary the degree of responsive- I ness of the device to varying intensities of motion and rates of onset of motion. Of course, the exact form of motion sensitive devices is not critical to the operation of the present invention, and other known per se forms of such devices may be used, such as a reed switch or a switch 40 of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 in which electrical contact points 42,44 are closed by the impingement or interpositioning of a ball 46. Such alternative devices may desirably be used, for example, to avoid the possible toxic dangers of a mercury-glass bulb switch. There is also included in the device shown in FIG. 1 a sensory indication device 24 electrically connected with the switch means 14, by which closing of the motion responsive switch 20 when its associated circuit is actuated will produce a response. In FIG. 1 this is illustrated as a simple bell of well known design.

Obviously, a light or other sensory stimulation device might also be used. FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a circuit suitable for use with an embodiment of the device illustrated in FIG. 1. The circuit shown in FIG. 2 includes a power source 30, an on-off" switch 16, a motion responsive switch 20, and a sensory indicator device 24 such as a bell or a light.

When it is desired to use the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device may be affixed to the athlete in his hip region at his side by threading his belt through the slots 12. The Circuit is then made ready for operation by closing the on-off switch 16, and the motion responsive switch is positioned at a desired angle of inclination by swiveling its associated swivel plate 22 to the desired position. The batter is then positioned in the normal batting position, and allowed to swing his bat in the normal manner. Although he may swing the bat at a pitched ball, with the present device, it is also possible to give instruction in timingby having the batter swing his bat to hit a stationary object, such as another bat being held by his coach. In this manner, the batter can quickly and easily be taught for example, that his hips are to be in rotating motion towards the oncoming ball before the bat connects with the ball, and this is made clear to him through use of the present device by means of the sequence of sounds which both he and his coach hear. Thus, he can be taught that if his timing sequence is correct, he should hear first the ringing of the bell and then the sound of his bat hitting the ball or the bat being held by his instructor. Clearly, the desirable time intervals between these events may thereby also be taught. By use of this invention, the batter may be taught first to reproduce a set and sequence of sounds which, by repetition, will become translated into muscle memory or instinctive reactions. It will also be clear that by slight modification, in obvious ways, of the mounting base and, if necessary, the general sizes and configurations of the component parts, it is alternatively or also possible to monitor motion of other parts of the body separately from or concurrently with the hips, for example. Thus, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, a second motion sensing device similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be adapted to be affixed to the players back in the region of the shoulders. Such a device may be connected electrically to the sensory responsive device of another associated unit such as that described above for affixation to the region of the hips, thereby eliminating the necessity for two such sensory responsive devices. For example, a simple mercury switch 20A on an appropriate harness may be affixed in the region of the shoulders and connected electrically to the sound maker 24A of a hip motion monitoring device also being worn by the player. Using known per se devices, such as those used for door bells, it is possible to have the same unit sound both a bell and a buzzer. Thus hip motion may be made to ring the bell and shoulder motion to cause the buzzer to sound. By this means, the batter may be taught, for example, to listen for a bell-buzzer-bat" sound sequence, requiring him to rotate first his hips, then his shoulders, and finally the bat, causing the bat to hit the one held by his coach with greatest effect. In the alternative, the player may simply wear the bell or light in the region of his waist without a motion responsive switch in that region and thereby be able to monitor shoulder motion without having to bear the weight of the energy source and bell or light mechanism in the region of his shoulders.

With such a shoulder monitor, for example, the player may be shown effectively that the proper sequence of motion should be hips, shoulders, and then bat, in that order; being assured that he will preserve the proper sequence and follow it automatically merely by reproducing the prescribed sequence of responses in the associated sensory stimulators. Obviously, the present invention may be embodied in a great number of structures which may differ more or less from the exact embodiment hereinbefore discussed, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, since the embodiment discussed above, as well as the exact descriptions of component parts, and the like, are merely by way of illustration and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. A device for indicating that a selected portion of the human body has come into motion in a selected direction comprising an electrical switch means adapted for affixation to said portion of said human body which changes its on-off state in response to motion of said selected portions of said body in said selected direction but not counterdirectionally thereto, and electrically actuated means for producing a sensory indication that the on-off state of said switch means has changed.

2. The device described in claim 1 in which said switch means is a switch in which electrical contact points become electrically interconnected as a result of the change in position of an associated ball.

3. The device described in claim 1 in which said sensory indication means produces an auditory response.

4. The device described in claim 3 in which said switch means is a switch in which electrical contact points become electrically interconnected as a result of the change in position of an associated ball.

5. The device described in claim 1 in which the response sensitivity of said switch means may be selectively varied.

6. The device described in claim 1 wherein said switch means is a tubular switch, the response sensitivity of which may be selectively varied by varying the inclination of said tube with respect to horizontal.

7. The device described in claim 6 wherein said sensory indication means produces an auditory response.

8. The device described in claim 7 wherein said sensory indication means as well as said switch means is adapted for affixation to said human body.

9. The device described in claim 1 in combination with a second device for indicating that a second selected portion of the human body has come into motion in a selected direction, said second device comprising an electrical switch means adapted for affixation to said second portion of said human body which changes its on-off state in response to motion of said selected portion of said body in said selected direction but not counterdirectionally thereto, and a second electrically actuated means for producing a sensory indication that the on-off state of said second switch means has changed.

10. The combination described in claim 9 in which said second sensory indication means produces a response which is distinguishable to the senses from said first sensory indication means.

11. The combination described in claim 10 in which at least one of said sensory indication means produce auditory responses.

3 7 66 ,5 3 8 6 12. The combination described in claim 10 in which both of said sensory indication means produce auditory the response sensitivity of at least one of said switches responses and the response sensitivity of both of said may be selectively varied. switches may be selectively varied. 13. The combination described in claim 10 in which 

1. A device for indicating that a selected portion of the human body has come into motion in a selected direction comprising an electrical switch means adapted for affixation to said portion of said human body which changes its on-off state in response to motion of said selected portions of said body in said selected direction but not counterdirectionally thereto, and electrically actuated means for producing a sensory indication that the on-off state of said switch means has changed.
 2. The device described in claim 1 in which said switch means is a switch in which electrical contact points become electrically interconnected as a result of the change in position of an associated ball.
 3. The device described in claim 1 in which said sensory indication means produces an auditory response.
 4. The device described in claim 3 in which said switch means is a switch in which electrical contact points become electrically interconnected as a result of the change in position of an associated ball.
 5. The device described in claim 1 in which the response sensitivity of said switch means may be selectively varied.
 6. The device described in claim 1 wherein said switch means is a tubular switch, the response sensitivity of which may be selectively varied by varying the inclination of said tube with respect to horizontal.
 7. The device described in claim 6 wherein said sensory indication means produces an auditory response.
 8. The device described in claim 7 wherein said sensory indication means as well as said switch means is adapted for affixation to said human body.
 9. The device described in claim 1 in combination with a second device for indicating that a second selected portion of the human body has come into motion in a selected direction, said second device comprising an electrical switch means adapted for affixation to said second portion of said human body which changes its on-off state in response to motion of said selected portion of said body in said selected direction but not counterdirectionally thereto, and a second electrically actuated means for producing a sensory indication that the on-off state of said second switch means has changed.
 10. The combination described in claim 9 in which said second sensory indication means produces a response which is distinguishable to the senses from said first sensory indication means.
 11. The combination described in claim 10 in which at least one of said sensory indication means produce auditory responses.
 12. The combination described in claim 10 in which the response sensitivity of at least one of said switches may be selectively varied.
 13. The combination described in claim 10 in which both of said sensory indication means produce auditory responses and the response sensitivity of both of said switches may be selectively varied. 